A Fluorogenic Probe with Aggregation-Induced Emission Characteristics for Carboxylesterase Assay through Formation of Supramolecular Microfibers

• Published in: Chemistry, an Asian journal Vol. 9; no. 3; pp. 784 - 789
• Main Authors: Wang, Xiaojing, Liu, Huan, Li, Jingwen, Ding, Kaiguo, Lv, Zhonglin, Yang, Yonggang, Chen, Hong, Li, Xinming
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Weinheim WILEY-VCH Verlag 01.03.2014; WILEY‐VCH Verlag; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: aggregation-induced emission; carboxylesterase; Carboxylesterase - analysis; Carboxylesterase - metabolism; Chemistry; Enzyme Assays; fluorescence; Fluorescent Dyes - analysis; Fluorescent Dyes - chemistry; Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; Macromolecular Substances - chemistry; Molecular Structure; Particle Size; self-assembly; Surface Properties; tetraphenylethylene; aggregation-induced emission; carboxylesterase; self-assembly; fluorescence; tetraphenylethylene
• ISSN: 1861-4728; 1861-471X
• DOI: 10.1002/asia.201301326

Herein, we report a novel fluorescent “light‐up” probe useful for carboxylesterase assay that is based on a tetraphenylethylene derivative containing carboxylic ester groups. The specific cleavage of the carboxylic ester bonds by carboxylesterase results in the generation of a relatively hydrophobic moiety that self‐assembles into supramolecular microfibers, thus giving rise to “turn‐on” fluorescent signals. A high sensitivity towards carboxylesterase was achieved with a detection limit as low as 29 pM, which is much lower than the corresponding assays based on other fluorescent approaches. A million little fibers: A novel fluorogenic probe based on a tetraphenylethylene derivative containing carboxylic ester groups for carboxylesterase recognition was designed and synthesized. The specific cleavage of the carboxylic ester bond by carboxylesterase results in the generation of a relatively hydrophobic moiety that self‐assembles into highly fluorescent supramolecular microfibers, thus giving rise to “turn‐on” fluorescent signals.